Wishing you a safe and merry Christmas

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas, full of cheer. But we do urge you to be careful as Christmas Day is the worst day of the year for fire claims — 150% higher than normal. Accidents with cooking, candles and all those Christmas lights are usually to blame. So to help make sure your Christmas is a merry one, we’ve provided these simple fire safety tips.

Choose a fresh tree, rather than one that’s shedding needles, and stand it in a large, stable container away from doors, fireplaces and heat sources. Water it regularly and, if possible, spray it with flame retardant.

Only use fairy lights marked with British Standard BSEN60598 2-20 and the Kitemark. Also, when you get them out of the box, check they’re in good condition with no exposed wiring.

Having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is also highly recommended. They could save your life.

And as well as being one of the busiest times of the year for the Fire Brigade, Christmas is also a busy time for thieves. Make sure presents can’t be seen from outside your home, so you’re less likely to be the target of a break-in. And, if you don’t already have a sensor light outside your house, think about installing one.

Source: AVIVA ‘Stay safe this season – Winter’